Stop Using Shannon

THE use of Shannon Airport by U.S. troops on their way to and from the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan has gained a good deal of coverage recently primarily thanks to the WikiLeaks stories in the Irish Independent.

The new program for the Irish government says Shannon Airport should only be used in accordance with international law, and since the Hague Convention of 1907 which has been a cornerstone of law says neutral states cannot allow their territory to be used in a war (no U.S. Army planes land in Zurich Airport), the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) expects the Fine Gael/Labor government to live up to its promises.

Please visit www.globalintelligenceforum.com which promotes a conference on global intelligence (???) from July 11-13 in Dungarvan. The speakers include a former director of the CIA and many others.

Since the decisive majority of the people of the U.S. and Great Britain want to see the end of these wars, PANA in opposing them since 2001, sees itself as the most pro-U.S., most pro-British (their people, that is) in Ireland.

If the new Irish government refuses to enforce its own agreed program, it is it, not PANA, that is anti-American, anti-British.